Ok, I guess no one here knows for sure.
But why I'm asking is because I'm gonna record an AMAZING female vocalist with a simular range and tone as Adele.

I'm gonna do it in a pro studio but don't have the possibility to AB lots of mics, but just beg to use on of the most expensive mics. I really want to do her voice justice and I love the vocal sound on Adeles album.

This voice is really powerful so don't the recording want it to come off as harsh in any way.

Anyone more experienced that could ID what chain might have been used, or at least mic?
I know it's a stupid question, but might help on the way.
All I've got in my own locker is SM7, but I think I want a little more detail than the SM7 can offer this time

The thing about Adele I noticed immediately, on her famous song, is that when she really opens up the volume kind of doesn't move -- to the point it really drew attention to itself. I've only noticed this problem to this degree on the last few Queen records before Freddie Mercury died. He opens up the vocals and -- no level change. That kind of amount of compression shocks me. I was wondering if they tracked Adele in that open beautiful way and then the label wanted a radio mix and master.

Because if they did, a lot of her vocal sound is likely from serious compression and you'll have to take into account how the vocal was manipulated in the mix. And if they just tracked her very compressed to begin with, that will need to be taken into consideration.

I mean you could start with a heavily driven 1176...but it's likely more than one compressor, and a combination of hardware and plugin.

Chris I wouldn't say its a "clean" sound - it has nice detail, but you can hear the "driven" quality of the harmonics on the Rolling in the Deep chorus, and the next song Rumour has it, and even Turning tables... whatever mic it is you can hear the warmth of proximity effect on Rumour Has it and Turning Tables

My favourite vocal sound on that record is set fire to the rain, ofc the sick performance helps, but that's my main reference!
The high end sounds so smooth and tubey, bright but not harsh. That's how people describe the 251 so if that's the case I'm out of luck.

My favourite vocal sound on that record is set fire to the rain, ofc the sick performance helps, but that's my main reference!
The high end sounds to smooth and tubey, bright but not harsh. That's how people describe the 251 so if that's the case I'm out of luck.

Yes it sounds a bit "leaner" than the ones I mentioned.. Bit more hi-fi... Could well be a C12 type mic

it was a reference to the London (British?) phenomenon of teenage kids sat at the back of the top deck of a bus publicly "entertaining" their fellow travelers with their music by playing it as loud as their mobile phone's tiny speaker will allow.

it was a reference to the London (British?) phenomenon of teenage kids sat at the back of the top deck of a bus publicly "entertaining" their fellow travelers with their music by playing it as loud as their mobile phone's tiny speaker will allow.
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Album artwork has a photo of her singing into a 251, in what I think were the Rick Rubin produced tracks, judging by the similarity of the studio to the photos of Rubin and Adele together in his studio. The other producers on the album doubtless used different mic's. Hard to go wrong with a 251 ...